use their cell phones to call loved ones at that altitude if airlines are just recently adding technology to make cell phones work at that altitude?
2006-08-16 05:52:59 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
They have always worked. They just don't want people to use them.
The FCC rule, 47 CFR 22.925, prohibits the use of cell phones after the aircraft leaves the ground. This rule applies to all aircraft
whether commercial or private or whether powered or simply a balloon. The FCC rule applies only to cell phones. It does not apply to other PEDs (Portable Electronic Devices). This rule was adopted in December 1991. It was based on the Commission’s concern that use of cell phones in the air could interfere with the cell phone system on the ground.
“A cell phone signal from the ground transmits only to one cell base station. However, from an aircraft at 30,000 feet, cell phone signals reach the earth in a wide cone that covers many receiving stations. This could undermine the radio traffic management system and interfere with other calls.”
Source: The Subcommittee on Aviation Hearing on Portable Electronic Devices: ‘Do they really pose a safety hazard on aircraft.’
United States House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/transportation/aviation/hearing/07-20-00/07-20-00memo.html#PURPOSE
2006-08-16 05:58:00 · answer #1 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cell phones do work in aircraft, I know this because I have used one on a flight before. There are many variables that affect its operation, cloud cover, altitude and location of the cell tower are some of these. I do not know what altitude flt 93 was flying when the calls were placed so I can't say they were or were not used. The main reason cell phone use is restricted on aircraft is because of the possible effects of the transmission on the avionic systems in the aircraft. Many of thes systems uses radio waves which "could" be affected by receiving and transmitting from a cell phone.
2006-08-16 06:34:57 · answer #2 · answered by Chief 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The technology being developed is making it more efficient to talk on cell phones at that altitude. It doesn't mean it's impossible for cells to work at that height. In addtion, the plane was constantly changing altitude anyway...they may have been a lot lower.
2006-08-16 05:58:52 · answer #3 · answered by Joe B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it was a phone that used an analog signal, which was quite popular then, it could easily work. Analog bounces all over the place and has a long range from the tower. Plus, it can also piggy back on similar freq. Not complicated. Digital phones have a harder time working at altitude because of the limited distance it travels from tower. Think of analog as A.M. Radio and digital as F.M. Radio. F.M. always disappears before the A.M. signal does when you are driving away from it's source...
2006-08-16 06:30:38 · answer #4 · answered by celtfalcon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we don't comprehend precisely what happened to Flight ninety 3 and the action picture is basically hypothesis. It became in all probability vacationing at an exceptionally intense cost of velocity whilst it impacted. The passengers interior the rear did no longer have time to react to something and as everybody else has pronounced, you're ineffective for specific in case you leap out. in case you reside interior the airplane, you have a wager of surviving.
2016-11-04 22:51:35 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cell phones have always worked on planes. the danger was that the signal could interfere with the plane's flight technology. the new technology they are adding only tries to make it safe to use cell phones on planes, even though it is still illegal. i remember about 7 years ago i was on a flight when the plane filled with smoke and people panicked and called home on their cellphones, which still worked at 30,000 feet.
2006-08-16 06:00:34 · answer #6 · answered by Cheesie M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the altitude of the plane. Sometimes its too high to get cell reception, other times its not a problem.
2006-08-16 06:00:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was an airline pilot for a major airline for 28 years and tried to use a cell phone many times at different altitudes and was never able to receive or make a call.
2015-09-10 20:51:19 · answer #8 · answered by Larry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the interference caused by cellphones prompted the airlines to ban them, but in that emergency, the passengers used them anyway, and the new technology just fixes the interference problem.
2006-08-16 05:59:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've wondered the same thing. I assume th eplane was flying as a low altitude. But it was something that I always questioned too.
2006-08-16 06:25:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋